Here are somethings that are different about Germany. I will avoid making sweeping generalizations about an entire country and its people but here are somethings I have noticed in my limited experiences here.
1. I used to think cooking meant using the microwave. Here microwaves are seldom used and real cooking is done almost daily. This was my stab at cooking. I wanted to share with Beatrice's family, my family's favorite meal. Tacos!
2. Correct me if I am wrong, but I have never seen a baby in a "Sleep Sack" in America before. Its like a little sleeping bag/dress for babies to sleep in. Might have something to do with the harsher temperatures in winter.
3. In summer everyone's yard is an immaculate display of gardening skills and roses. I think I pass 100 rose bushes on a normal trip to the store. This is just a sample of what I get to see everyday.
4. I forgot that summer doesn't have to be South Carolina humid.
5. The Catholic Church is the most important building in every village/city.
6. I have never seen so many different kinds of meat in my life.
7. They have a few fruits/berries I have never heard of before.
8. Obama is pretty popular across the world, I had heard this before I left, but it is different when you are asked repeatedly "What do you think of Obama?"
9. Chocolate Chip Cookies & Brownies are not a staple to their diet! I have since remedied this. I had to use chocolate sprinkles instead of chocolate chips, which is surprising b/c Nestle is like a huge company here.
I had to translate my recipe into milliliters. I'm a genius, I know.
10. "The Nanny" does not sound nearly as bad when she is dubbed in German. Which only makes me appreciate Fran more for who she is. Listen to this clip for at least 37 seconds, and you will see the laugh is not the same.
11. How could I forget? The beds are different, different sizes and there is no sheet/blanket/ comforter combo (trio?). You get your duvet cover, that's it, oh and a big fluffy square pillow. I kinda like it. You wake up less tangled. In the morning you fold it in half and you are good to go. My friend Mary would love this concept.
12. Ice Cream is amazing here, commonly referred to as Eis. And what do they call just plain ice? Eis of course! (Eis and Ice are pronounced the same.) Ice cream is more of an event. I feel like I've already used the word "spectacular" too many times in this blog, but here it is again. Our ice cream was specatular.
This is Beatrice's friend Lisa, very nice girl and good friend. I had to post this second picture, because I think it is a much more lovely picture of Lisa, but the 1st one is necessary so you can see the ice cream. Lisa is half American-half German and spent several years living in England. So with her Dad she speaks English, her Mom she speaks German, and her English usually sounds quite British-english. (ie Americans say flashlight, they say torch) I asked her, "Does it ever get confusing speaking two different languages at home? How do you decide which language to speak if you are talking with both parents?" Answer: Whoever talks first.
13. A lot of my friends think I seem to have a habit of ordering the grossest thing on the menu because I like to try new things. The thing I order usually does end up being pretty gross, but I never learn. And guess what? They have gross menu items in Germany too.
For example this lovely item from the "San Francisco Coffee House". I ordered it, it was bad.
This picture I'm just posting because I almost died laughing when Beatrice and I saw this and she said "This is what happens when you study art."
I'd like to do a little something for my dear friend, April...enjoy, but please keep reading the blog after you see this.
Ok, sorry April it's all over now, uncover your eyes, but then again, I'm impressed if you read this with your eyes covered. Anywho....
These are just a few pictures I like from our trip to the amusement park. (Yes we paid for the picture, I just took a photo of it b/c it was an easy way to get it on the internet.)
I can't even begin to tell you how hardcore these bumper cars were. It was a free for all. There was no one dictating that your turn was over or that you couldn't just sit in the same car and ride over and over. So when the ride would end everyone would just run to a car so that they could have the next turn, but sometimes the person would just refuse to get out. We took this as a challenge. This was the day I learned the word HERAUS!!!! (Out!!)
This is a picture of most of the park from the top of the ferris wheel. You can see the roller coaster featured in the next video. (Orange and blue)
This was just a fun little swing thing. Beatrice left, Lisa middle, Me Right. (I kinda like it because it reminds me a little of the ending of Charlotte's Web when there are only 3 baby spiders left to be friends with Wilbur. No? ok, just wondering.)
Oh and a video from the amusement park, This roller coaster was pretty scary. At one point you were just hanging upside down. I really didn't want to go but when 8 people are trying to convince you in half German English (Germish) to go, you just do. But somehow I got tricked into being in the 1st car. Not cool. And yes I am aware that I look special in this picture.
But this is why....
And now to show you what I hinted at weeks ago on facebook by saying "American football is alive and well in Germany." But a little different. I was assured over and over that this was not the typical way to play, but you gotta admit it makes one heck of a 1st impression. Most of these guys actually play for a team and really love American football.
Ok thanks for reading. I'll be back in 2 weeks with pictures of Greece, my Dirndl, my trip to Salzburg for the Sound of Music tour and a tour of the salt mines where you get to wear miners overalls and slide down a mine shaft.
Gute Nacht!
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